Lilah by Gemma Liviero Read Free Book Online Page A

someone
rebellious, doing whatever he pleased and answering to no-one. As I would later
discover this was not far from the truth.
    As the light sank into the earth the mist
swirled higher, obscuring our vision ahead. I could see no firelight from the
next town and knew we were still a fair distance from our journey’s end.
    ‘How far to the town?’ I ventured to ask.
    ‘Another five hours of steady walk.’
    Although his fixed stride and my heightened
anxiety seemed to spur me on, my legs ached and I desperately wanted to sit
down. It was also becoming much too late to request audience at a foreigner’s
house. I suddenly wondered then if Arianne’s family would take me in. What if
they rejected my request for work? Where would I go? I was
told by Sister Gertrude that I must never return to the monastery for
any reason. That it was both dangerous for me and for the sisters should any of
us be seen together. Arianne had explained that the
Papal authorities had deemed that any who practiced heresy in our circles must
be given up for questioning and she said that such people were rarely seen
again. I shuddered, a second time, at the thought of putting Arianne and the
sisters in danger.
    The air was cooling now and I wrapped my shawl
around me.
    ‘If it is too far for you to complete the
journey today, I know a small farmhouse where we can go to rest. I assure you
my friends will welcome us.’
    It meant following him away from the main track
and into the night forest but I felt an unexplainable reason to trust him.
    We came to a hut where an older couple lived,
and they were genuinely pleased to see their visitor. ‘Gabriel!’
    Gabriel introduced them as old friends. ‘This
is Lilah.’ I was surprised to hear my name, suspecting that he had heard
Arianne call her goodbye as I left the monastery. I did not sense danger once
inside, only sincerity by it occupants and affection in their surrounds. The
cabin was flooded with the peppery sweetness of steaming broth and the earthy
smells of burning coal, and the couple seemed genuinely concerned about the
thinness of my garment and how far I had walked.
    ‘I go to see my uncle, Istavan Köszegi,’ I lied
in part. ‘Do you know him?’
    ‘The question is do you know him?’
    I shook my head. ‘I have not met him before.’
    ‘Well my dear, I can tell you that he is not
very amiable. He hordes his wealth and underpays his
workers. I worked for him for a time but we parted ways. The coin was not worth
the long labour in his fields. He is not a fair man. Once when one of his
livestock died, the coin was taken from my pay. I could not have kept his sheep
from disease and old age yet he is miserly and required someone to blame.
     ‘Don’t frown, girl. I hear he spoils his
daughters and if you are family then I’m sure you will be looked after.’ Though
even as he said this I saw the look he gave Gabriel. There was something else
he wasn’t saying.
    ‘You can stay here the night if you wish. I
will make up a cot.’ I humbly protested and lost. There was nowhere else to go.
    I lay on a bed of blankets to sleep but
continued listening to their conversations. Gabriel had known them a long time.
They spoke of events from years ago and their gentle voices and camaraderie put
me at ease. Based on the history they referred to, he must have been a very
young boy when they first met.
    They continued in hushed tones.
    ‘Be careful,’ said Gabriel. ‘There are some who
don’t follow the rules any more. I have spoken to our master about this but he
dismisses it as if he doesn’t hear. He lives in his own world presuming that
everyone will conform. It is frustrating. I don’t like it.’
    ‘Tell us what has been going on.’
    Gabriel lowered his voice further. ‘The reborn
are more prone to mistakes. They do not have the history of memories in their
veins. They are too taken with their new state to think rationally.’ He paused
and lowered his voice. ‘You both have to be